Offcut started as a personal project. I was building a custom under-stairs closet and had to cut dozens of plywood and MDF panels (many different sizes, in different quantities). Working out the layout by hand to reduce waste was slow and error-prone, so I needed a way to optimize my cutting plan and stay organized.
As a developer, I built my own panel-cutting optimizer to generate the most efficient cut list and minimize offcuts. It saved me so much material and time on my own build that I decided to release it publicly (free, browser-based, no sign-up) so other woodworkers and DIYers can plan smarter cuts and waste less wood.
What you’ll find here
Offcut is two things: a free panel cutting optimizer that turns your part list into an efficient cutting plan, and a library of practical guides and calculators for anyone working with sheet materials.
- Wood weight calculator — the weight of any panel or board, by species and thickness.
- Shelf deflection calculator — how much a shelf will sag under load, before you cut it.
- Cabinet calculator — carcass, drawer and shelf cut lists.
- Reference charts and step-by-step guides on MDF, plywood, OSB and melamine — available in 10 languages.
How the data is put together
The weight tables, densities and load figures published here come from standard material specifications and are cross-checked against manufacturer datasheets. Panel densities vary between suppliers and production batches, so the figures are given as realistic ranges rather than false precision — and every article states the assumptions behind its numbers. Where a value depends on your exact panel, the calculators let you enter your own.
Who’s behind Offcut
Offcut is built and maintained by Nicolas, a solo developer based in France, alongside his own woodworking projects. It is self-funded, with no investors and no advertising network deciding what gets published. Core features are free; advanced export formats are available on a paid plan, which is what keeps the project running.
Get in touch
Found an error in a table, or need a feature the optimizer doesn’t cover yet? Corrections and feature requests genuinely shape what gets built next — contact me here.